"It wasn't really though. It was more like a dozen shacks had been piled on top of one another. There were several chimneys, and the whole thing was topped off by a strip of iron fence sitting on the roof like a particularly garish hat."
Chap. 1, p. 2

"'She was telling Uncle Terrence that Aunt Lucy thinks little men bring her food.'"
Chap. 1, p. 7

"Mallory picked up a broom and held the wooden end like a baseball bat. 'I'm going to knock open the wall,' she said."
Chap. 2, p. 19

"As he held up the makeshift lamp, Jared saw that something had been scrawled in the dust of the desk. Something that wasn't there before. Click clack, watch your back."
Chap. 3, p. 37

"'Mallory! Let go of your brother!' Their mother was standing at the top of the narrow kitchen stairs wearing a less-than-pleased expression."
Chap. 3, p. 41

'...